Biology Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Biology - Annotated Bibliography Example australis is the least tolerant of modified environments. Though the study is location-dependent, it still exemplifies a good scientific paper since the researchers were able to explicitly state their aims and their methods of going about their 12- year study. However, since it was indicated that later in the research, a newer technology (GPS) was used, I think that it would be better if the data presentation included the tracked items via GPS. The suggestion would add another dimension (the power of technology) to the research but the lack of it does not alter the completeness of the paper since even a sufficient background information and the significance of the study were provided. Lloyd, K. M., W. G. Lee, and S. Walker. 2006. Takahe Valley Hut: a focal point for weed invasion in an isolated area of Fiordland National Park, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Ecology Vol. 30(3): 371-375. The study aimed to look at back country recreational facilities as focal points for the spread of weeds. The research that was done in Takahe Valley Hut of the Fiordland National Park in New Zealand was able to conclude that grasses are the most invasive plant forms and that among the different types of land areas, bogs and forestly are the most resistant to invasion. The methodology of the study provided site, and climate descriptions, as well as vegetation sampling in the studied area. Moreover, ordination was utilized to analyze the data from the vegetation sampling done. The study is greatly dependent on location; however, this is not the main reason why the paper can not be considered as a good example of scientific writing. The problem lies with the lack of background information regarding the characteristics that make a plant form exotic, invasive and/or native. Though almost everyone may have a sense of what an exotic plant is, the term should contain definite limits because readers should not be left guessing whether the plant is exotic in the world, the whole country of New Zealand or just the southern portion of the said country. The research may be aimed at providing more information for the locals of New Zealand; but this does not mean that the data should be presented in such a way that familiarity is easily assumed and even, at the expense of completeness. ---------------------- Writer's note: the articles are available on-line at: http://www.nzes.org.nz/nzje pls note that the capitalized letters in the journal article title indicate proper nouns ---------------------- Johns, P. M., and B. Boag. 2003. The spread and distribution of terrestrial planarians (Turbellaria: Tricladida: Geoplanidae) within New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Ecology Vol.27(2): 201-206. Abstract: The New Zealand flatworm, Arthurdendyus triangulatus (formerly Artioposthia triangulata) has become established in the British Isles and the Faroe Islands and its human-mediated spread within Northern Ireland and Scotland is well documented. The geographical distributions within New Zealand of it and two related species, A. australis and A. testacea have always been assumed to reflect the natural distribution patterns. However, an analysis of the vegetation groups where the flatworms are presently found suggests that within New Zealand

Literary Response #4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Literary Response #4 - Essay Example As the poem develops the speaker’s emotional state takes on a more somber and forlorn tone. Millay writes, â€Å"but the rain/ Is full of ghosts tonight, that tap and sigh/ Upon the glass and listen for reply;/ And in my heart there stirs a quiet pain/ For unremembered lads that not again/ Will turn to me at midnight with a cry† (Millay, 3-8). In these lines Millay uses the image of the ghosts in the rain to symbolize the speaker’s past lovers. One can envision the speaker looking out at the rain and attempting to recollect these past individuals. Upon realizing that the speaker will never again share a moment of love and intimacy with these past lovers the speaker’s emotional state is punctuated by a quiet pain. The image of the rain as the ghosts of past lovers is highly effective as rain has an immediate visceral effect of creating the emotion of sadness and slight depression; when coupled with the image of past lovers that the speaker will never again be able to spend time with, it is not difficult for the viewer to not only understand, but also feel this somber emotional state. As the poem advances and ultimately concludes the speaker’s emotional state is explored in greater depth, with more complex images. Millay writes, â€Å"Thus in the winter stands a lonely tree,/ Nor knows what birds have vanished one by one,/ Yet know its boughs more silent than before:/ I cannot say what loves have come and gone;/ I only know that summer sang in me/ A little while, that in me sings no more† (Millay 9-14). In referring to the lonely tree, the speaker is actually referencing herself. The image of winter conveys both the passage of time, as well the coldness that accompanies the speaker’s loneliness. While previously the speaker’s emotional state was perceived as slightly somber, this image of winter is starkly dark and despondent. This despondency is advanced in the following image of birds that once frequented the tree

Pacem in Terris Essay Example for Free

Pacem in Terris Essay 1. Almost forty years ago, on Holy Thursday, 11 April 1963, Pope John XXIII published his epic Encyclical Letter Pacem in Terris. Addressing himself to â€Å"all men of good will†, my venerable predecessor, who would die just two months later, summed up his message of â€Å"peace on earth† in the first sentence of the Encyclical: â€Å"Peace on earth, which all men of every era have most eagerly yearned for, can be firmly established and sustained only if the order laid down by God be dutifully observed† (Introduction: AAS, 55 [1963], 257). Speaking peace to a divided world 2. The world to which John XXIII wrote was then in a profound state of disorder. The twentieth century had begun with great expectations for progress. Yet within sixty years, that same century had produced two World Wars, devastating totalitarian systems, untold human suffering, and the greatest persecution of the Church in history. Only two years before Pacem in Terris, in 1961, the Berlin Wall had been erected in order to divide and set against each other not only two parts of that City but two ways of understanding and building the earthly city. On one side and the other of the Wall, life was to follow different patterns, dictated by antithetical rules, in a climate of mutual suspicion and mistrust. Both as a world-view and in real life, that Wall traversed the whole of humanity and penetrated peoples hearts and minds, creating divisions that seemed destined to last indefinitely. Moreover, just six months before the Encyclical, and just as the Second Vatican Council was opening in Rome, the world had come to the brink of a nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The road to a world of peace, justice and freedom seemed blocked. Humanity, many believed, was condemned to live indefinitely in that precarious condition of â€Å"cold war†, hoping against hope that neither an act of aggression nor an accident would trigger the worst war in human history. Available atomic arsenals meant that such a war would have imperiled the very future of the human race. 3. Pope John XXIII did not agree with those who claimed that peace was impossible. With his Encyclical, peace – in all its demanding truth – came knocking on both sides of the Wall and of all the other dividing walls. The Encyclical spoke to everyone of their belonging to the one human family, and shone a light on the shared aspiration of people everywhere to live in security, justice and hope for the future. With the profound intuition that characterized him, John XXIII identified the essential conditions for peace in four precise requirements of the human spirit: truth, justice, love and freedom (cf. ibid., I: l.c., 265-266). Truth will build peace if every individual sincerely acknowledges not only his rights, but also his own duties towards others. Justice will build peace if in practice everyone respects the rights of others and actually fulfils his duties towards them. Love will build peace if people feel the needs of others as their own and share what they have with others, especially the values of mind and spirit which they possess. Freedom will build peace and make it thrive if, in the choice of the means to that end, people act according to reason and assume responsibility for their own actions. Looking at the present and into the future with the eyes of faith and reason, Blessed John XXIII discerned deeper historical currents at work. Things were not always what they seemed on the surface. Despite wars and rumours of wars, something more was at work in human affairs, something that to the Pope looked like the promising beginning of a spiritual revolution. A new awareness of human dignity and inalienable human rights 4. Humanity, John XXIII wrote, had entered a new stage of its journey (cf. ibid., I: l.c., 267-269). The end of colonialism and the rise of newly independent States, the protection of workers rights, the new and welcome presence of women in public life, all testified to the fact that the human race was indeed entering a new phase of its history, one characterized by â€Å"the conviction that all men are equal by reason of their natural dignity† (ibid., I: l.c.,268). The Pope knew that that dignity was still being trampled upon in many parts of the world. Yet he was convinced that, despite the dramatic situation, the world was becoming increasingly conscious of certain spiritual values, and increasingly open to the meaning of those pillars of peace – truth, justice, love, and freedom (cf. ibid., I: l.c., 268-269). Seeking to bring these values into local, national and international life, men and women were becoming more aware that their relationship with God, the source of all good, must be the solid foundation and supreme criterion of their lives, as individuals and in society (cf. ibid.). This evolving spiritual intuition would, the Pope was convinced, have profound public and political consequences. Seeing the growth of awareness of human rights that was then emerging within nations and at the international level, Pope John XXIII caught the potential of this phenomenon and understood its singular power to change history. What was later to happen in central and eastern Europe would confirm his insight. The road to peace, he taught in the Encyclical, lay in the defence and promotion of basic human rights, which every human being enjoys, not as a benefit given by a different social class or conceded by the State but simply because of our humanity: â€Å"Any human society, if it is to be well-ordered and productive, must lay down as a foundation this principle, namely, that every human being is a person, that is, his nature is endowed with intelligence and free will. Indeed, precisely because he is a person he has rights and obligations, flowing directly and simultaneously from his very nature. And as these rights and obligations are universal and inviolable so they cannot in any way be surrendered† (ibid., 259). As history would soon show, this was not simply an abstract idea; it was an idea with profound consequences. Inspired by the conviction that every human being is equal in dignity, and that society therefore had to adapt its form to that conviction, human rights movements soon arose and gave concrete political expression to one of the great dynamics of contemporary history: the quest for freedom as an indispensable component of work for peace. Emerging in virtually every part of the world, these movements were instrumental in replacing dictatorial forms of government with more democratic and participatory ones. They demonstrated in practice that peace and progress could only be achieved by respecting the universal moral law written on the human heart (cf. John Paul II, Address to the United Nations General Assembly, 5 October 1995, No. 3). The universal common good 5. On another point too Pacem in Terris showed itself prophetic, as it looked to the next phase of the evolution of world politics. Because the world was becoming increasingly interdependent and global, the common good of humanity had to be worked out on the international plane. It was proper, Pope John XXIII taught, to speak of a â€Å"universal common good † (Pacem in Terris, IV: l.c., 292). One of the consequences of this evolution was the obvious need for a public authority, on the international level, with effective capacity to advance the universal common good; an authority which could not, the Pope immediately continued, be established by coercion but only by the consent of nations. Such a body would have to have as its fundamental objective the â€Å"recognition, respect, safeguarding, and promotion of the rights of the human person† (ibid., IV: l.c., 294). Not surprisingly therefore John XXIII looked with hope and expectation to the United Nations Organization, which had come into being on June 26, 1945. He saw that Organization as a credible instrument for maintaining and strengthening world peace, and he expressed particular appreciation of its 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which he considered â€Å"an approximation towards the establishment of a juridical and political organization of the world community† (ibid., IV: l.c., 295). What he was saying in fact was that the Declaration set out the moral foundations on which the evolution of a world characterized by order rather than disorder, and by dialogue rather than force, could proceed. He was suggesting that the vigorous defence of human rights by the United Nations Organization is the indispensable foundation for the development of that Organizations capacity to promote and defend international security. Not only is it clear that Pope John XXIIIs vision of an effective international public authority at the service of human rights, freedom and peace has not yet been entirely achieved, but there is still in fact much hesitation in the international community about the obligation to respect and implement human rights. This duty touchesall fundamental rights, excluding that arbitrary picking and choosing which can lead to rationalizing forms of discrimination and injustice. Likewise, we are witnessing the emergence of an alarming gap between a series of new â€Å"rights† being promoted in advanced societies – the result of new prosperity and new technologies – and other more basic human rights still not being met, especially in situations of underdevelopment. I am thinking here for example about the right to food and drinkable water, to housing and security, to self-determination and independence – which are still far from being guaranteed and realized. Peace demands that this tension be speedily reduced and in time eliminated. Another observation needs to be made: the international community, which since 1948 has possessed a charter of the inalienable rights of the human person, has generally failed to insist sufficiently on corresponding duties. It is duty that establishes the limits within which rights must be contained in order not to become an exercise in arbitrariness. A greater awareness of universal human duties would greatly benefit the cause of peace, setting it on the moral basis of a shared recognition of an order in things which is not dependent on the will of any individual or group. A new international moral order 6. Nevertheless it remains true that, despite many difficulties and setbacks, significant progress has been made over the past forty years towards the implementation of Pope Johns noble vision. The fact that States throughout the world feel obliged to honour the idea of human rights shows how powerful are the tools of moral conviction and spiritual integrity, which proved so decisive in the revolution of conscience that made possible the 1989 non-violent revolution that displaced European communism. And although distorted notions of freedom as licence continue to threaten democracy and free societies, it is surely significant that, in the forty years since Pacem in Terris, much of the world has become more free, structures of dialogue and cooperation between nations have been strengthened, and the threat of a global nuclear war, which weighed so heavily on Pope John XXIII, has been effectively contained. Boldly, but with all humility, I would like to suggest that the Churchs fifteen-hundred-year-old teaching on peace as â€Å"tranquillitas ordinis – the tranquillity of order† as Saint Augustine called it (De Civitate Dei, 19, 13), which was brought to a new level of development forty years ago by Pacem in Terris, has a deep relevance for the world today, for the leaders of nations as well as for individuals. That there is serious disorder in world affairs is obvious. Thus the question to be faced remains: What kind of order can replace this disorder, so that men and women can live in freedom, justice, and security? And since the world, amid its disorder, continues nevertheless to be â€Å"ordered† and organized in various ways – economic, cultural, even political – there arises another equally urgent question: On what principles are these new forms of world order unfolding? These far-reaching questions suggest that the problem of order in world affairs, which is the problem of peace rightly understood, cannot be separated from issues of moral principle. This is another way of saying that the question of peace cannot be separated from the question of human dignity and human rights. That is one of the enduring truths taught by Pacem in Terris, which we would do well to remember and reflect upon on this fortieth anniversary. Is this not the time for all to work together for a new constitutional organization of the human family, truly capable of ensuring peace and harmony between peoples, as well as their integral development? But let there be no misunderstanding. This does not mean writing the constitution of a global super-State. Rather, it means continuing and deepening processes already in place to meet the almost universal demand for participatory ways of exercising political authority, even international political authority, and for transparency and accountability at every level of public life. With his confidence in the goodness he believed could be found in every human person, Pope John XXIII called the entire world to a nobler vision of public life and public authority, even as he boldly challenged the world to think beyond its present state of disorder to new forms of international order commensurate with human dignity. The bond between peace and truth 7. Against those who think of politics as a realm of necessity detached from morality and subject only to partisan interests, Pope John XXIII, in Pacem in Terris, outlined a truer picture of human reality and indicated the path to a better future for all. Precisely because human beings are created with the capacity for moral choice, no human activity takes place outside the sphere of moral judgment. Politics is a human activity; therefore, it too is subject to a distinctive form of moral scrutiny. This is also true of international politics. As the Pope wrote: â€Å"The same natural law that governs the life and conduct of individuals must also regulate the relations of political communities with one another† (Pacem in Terris, III: l.c., 279). Those who imagine that international public life takes place somewhere outside the realm of moral judgment need only reflect on the impact of human rights movements on the national and international politics of the twentieth century just concluded. These developments, anticipated by the teaching of the Encyclical, decisively refute the claim that international politics mustof necessity be a â€Å"free zone† in which the moral law holds no sway. Perhaps nowhere today is there a more obvious need for the correct use of political authority than in the dramatic situation of the Middle East and the Holy Land. Day after day, year after year, the cumulative effect of bitter mutual rejection and an unending chain of violence and retaliation have shattered every effort so far to engage in serious dialogue on the real issues involved. The volatility of the situation is compounded by the clash of interests among the members of the international community. Until those in positions of responsibility undergo a veritable revolution in the way they use their power and go about securing their peoples welfare, it is difficult to imagine how progress towards peace can be made. The fratricidal struggle that daily convulses the Holy Land and brings into conflict the forces shaping the immediate future of the Middle East shows clearly the need for men and women who, out of conviction, will implement policies firmly based on the principle of respect for human dignity and human rights. Such policies are incomparably more advantageous to everyone than the continuation of conflict. A start can be made on the basis of this truth, which is certainly more liberating than propaganda, especially when that propaganda serves to conceal inadmissible intentions. The premises of a lasting peace 8. There is an unbreakable bond between the work of peace and respect for truth. Honesty in the supply of information, equity in legal systems, openness in democratic procedures give citizens a sense of security, a readiness to settle controversies by peaceful means, and a desire for genuine and constructive dialogue, all of which constitute the true premises of a lasting peace. Political summits on the regional and international levels serve the cause of peace only if joint commitments are then honoured by each party. Otherwise these meetings risk becoming irrelevant and useless, with the result that people believe less and less in dialogue and trust more in the use of force as a way of resolving issues. The negative repercussions on peace resulting from commitments made and then not honoured must be carefully assessed by State and government leaders. Pacta sunt servanda, says the ancient maxim. If at all times commitments ought to be kept, promises made to the poor should be considered particularly binding. Especially frustrating for them is any breach of faith regarding promises which they see as vital to their well-being. In this respect, the failure to keep commitments in the sphere of aid to developing nations is a serious moral question and further highlights the injustice of the imbalances existing in the world. The suffering caused by poverty is compounded by the loss of trust. The end result is hopelessness. The existence of trust in international relations is a social capital of fundamental value. A culture of peace 9. In the end, peace is not essentially about structures but about people. Certain structures and mechanisms of peace – juridical, political, economic – are of course necessary and do exist, but they have been derived from nothing other than the accumulated wisdom and experience of innumerable gestures of peace made by men and women throughout history who have kept hope and have not given in to discouragement. Gestures of peace spring from the lives of people who foster peace first of all in their own hearts. They are the work of the heart and of reason in those who are peacemakers (cf. Mt 5:9). Gestures of peace are possible when people appreciate fully the community dimension of their lives, so that they grasp the meaning and consequences of events in their own communities and in the world. Gestures of peace create a tradition and a culture of peace. Religion has a vital role in fostering gestures of peace and in consolidating conditions for peace.It exercises this role all the more effectively if it concentrates on what is proper to it: attention to God, the fostering of universal brotherhood and the spreading of a culture of human solidarity. The Day of Prayer for Peacewhich I promoted in Assisi on 24 January 2002, involving representatives of many religions, had this purpose. It expressed a desire to nurture peace by spreading a spirituality and a culture of peace. The legacy of Pacem in Terris 10. Blessed Pope John XXIII was a man unafraid of the future. He was sustained in his optimism by his deep trust in God and in man, both of which grew out of the sturdy climate of faith in which he had grown up. Moved by his trust in Providence, even in what seemed like a permanent situation of conflict, he did not hesitate to summon the leaders of his time to a new vision of the world. This is the legacy that he left us. On this World Day of Peace 2003, let us all resolve to have his same outlook: trust in the merciful and compassionate God who calls us to brotherhood, and confidence in the men and women of our time because, like those of every other time, they bear the image of God in their souls. It is on this basis that we can hope to build a world of peace on earth. At the beginning of a new year in our human history, this is the hope that rises spontaneously from the depths of my heart: that in the spirit of every individual there may be a renewed dedication to the noble mission which Pacem in Terris proposed forty years ago to all men and women of good will. The task, which the Encyclical called â€Å"immense†, is that â€Å"of establishing new relationships in human society, under the sway and guidance of truth, justice, love, and freedom†. Pope John indicated that he was referring to â€Å"relations between individual citizens, between citizens and their respective States, between States, and finally between individuals, families, intermediate associations and States on the one hand, and the world community on the other†. He concluded by saying that â€Å"to bring about true peace in accordance with divinely established order† was a â€Å"most noble task† (Pacem in Terris, V: l.c., 301-302).. The fortieth anniversary of Pacem in Terris is an apt occasion to return to Pope John XXIIIs prophetic teaching. Catholic communities will know how to celebrate this anniversary during the year with initiatives which, I hope, will have an ecumenical and interreligious character and be open to all those who have a heartfelt desire â€Å"to break through the barriers which divide them, to strengthen the bonds of mutual love, to learn to understand one another and to pardon those who have done them wrong† (l.c., 304). I accompany this hope with a prayer to Almighty God, the source of all our good. May he who calls us from oppression and conflict to freedom and cooperation for the good of all help people everywhere to build a world of peace ever more solidly established on the four pillars indicated by Blessed Pope John XXIII in his historic Encyclical: truth, justice, love, freedom. From the Vatican, 8 December 2002

Inflation and economic growth

Inflation and economic growth This section of the paper provides literary evidence on the relationship of inflation in the economic growth and helps in the understanding of any causal relation between them, if there exists any. We start with the conclusive evidence provided by Min Li (of the University of Alberta). We extract this support from the research conducted by Li on the Inflation Threshold Effects in the Finance-Growth Nexus and Transmission Mechanism Analysis. During the course of this research, the author examined the relationship between the inflation and the finance and economic growth, utilizing data collected from 90 countries. The authors research finds evidence of the existence of a nonlinear effect of the inflation the relation between finance and growth. The research also finds that though finance may stimulate growth at low inflation, however, the relationship does not hold beyond the threshold of 15% for inflation. The main features of this research includes the implication that the adverse e ffect inflation has on economic growth during a period of high inflation can only be controlled by improving the course of actions of all financial intermediaries (Li M. , 2007) The findings of the research show a strong positive and a significant relationship between finance and growth. However, as far as the effect of inflation on this relationship is concerned, there is little accord, and a threshold is agreed to be an existing component in the theory. This implies that as the inflation rises above a certain threshold level, which is estimated to lie between 14-16 %, the positive finance-growth relation weakens. The research also implies that the cost of inflation can be be said to have been derive by the management capabilities of financial intermediaries with regard to accumulated capital. The paper examines the productivity of capital in a high-inflation environment, concluding with the findings, which provide evidence on the existence of a robust non-linear relationship between inflation and the productivity of capital, and also identifying it as a causal relationship in a way that inflation has adverse effects on the productivity of capital. (Li M. , 2007) In another research, in which Li talks about a general agreement among economists upon the problems caused by inflation, an examination of relationship between inflation and economic performance has been brought into play. in contrast to the other research that, examines the adverse effects of inflation on the capital productivity, the author attempted to shift the focus to economic performance and its relationship with inflation. This research, Inflation and Economic Growth is collected from a data of 90 countries that are developing and 28 developed countries besides them, over the period of 1961-2004 in order to extract relevant evidence on the target relationship analysis. According to Li, in this research, the evidence provided buy the research findings supports the concept of the existence of a non-linear relationship between inflation and economic growth, not unlike capital productivity. (Li M. , 2006) However, a detailed study revealed that this result varies between developed and developing countries in terms of nonlinearity in the proposed variable relationship. The findings of the research lead to shaping of important phenomena pertaining to relationship between inflation and performance. Li claims that at lower than first threshold, of the two identified, level of inflation, the effects of inflation on growth are not significant and are positive. at moderate rate, between the two levels the effect is significant and negative and above the second threshold the marginal impact of additional inflation vanished from the growth but the relationship is still found to be negative. This can only be said for the developed countries, where only one threshold is to be found which has proven to have any significance. Thus according to the non-linear mechanism that follows , the magnitude of the negative impact that inflation has on the growth falls with an increase in inflation while at l ower than moderate level of inflation, the effect is even positive on the level of investment (Li M. , 2006). Li concludes her research with the findings that consistently support the nonlinearity of relationship between inflation an economic growth or performance. Li, also finds that the policy makers should not keep inflation rate at zero as single digit inflation does not hinder rather even stirs up economic growth. Furthermore, a hyperinflation, the one that surpasses beyond the second threshold level, does not have a an even worse negative impact on growth, rather the marginal impact actually falls with increase in inflation level. Thus controlling a moderate level of inflation should be a countrys primary goal pertaining to inflation (Li M. , 2006). The discussed literary findings proceed with the impact of inflation on the capital accumulation and the economic growth. Winding its path along other literature contents, the study of inflation effects on the economic growth finds its way into a research conducted by M. Ali Kemal in Is inflation in Pakistan a Monetary Phenomenon? during the course of conducting research, Kemal attempted to analyze and identify the impact that other factors, specifically change in money supply, would have on the rate of inflation. Kemal found that an increase in money supply over a long period leads to high inflation. The concluded research of Kemal, besides having relevance to our research, provided a decent level of support to the quantity theory of money as well. Thus empirically coming to a conclusion, Kemal claimed that inflation is indeed a monetary phenomenon. In order to study the impact of inflation on economic growth, it is pertinent that we examine the effect of other factors on inflation as well and employ it in enhancing our understanding of the important of inflation in the growth process. According to Kemal, a change in money supply effects the rate of inflation in the long run. Since the Quantity Theory of Money also holds in the long run, this led him to believe and later on evidently prove that inflation is a monetary phenomenon (Kemal, 2006).Kemal argues that money supply does not have an immediate impact on the price levels. on the contrary, a change in money supply would start indicating any affected changes in the price levels with a lag of about 9 months time. The study conducted by Kemal, emphasize the efficiency of the system that the money supply works through, showing that it takes less than a year to convey an induction. However, it also points out that once a stir up takes place, the system takes it time to achieve equilibrium state again under the circumstances that the induced change works it way from a change in one the three variables which include GDP, money supply and prices. In the short run, the impact of a change in money supply on inflation in not instant. the effect seeps through the system to actually induce any change with a lag of at least a period of 3 quarters (Kemal, 2006). Having had proven that inflation is a monetary phenomenon through evidence provided by Kemal, we move on towards the research conducted by Abdul Qayyum who, in his study Does Monetary Policy Play Effective Role in controlling Inflation in Pakistan, has conducted a research in the light of the data available for Pakistan in order to get a clearer understanding of monetary Policy framework and the extent to which and how it controls inflation specifically in Pakistans economy. this includes a number of factors that are a source of rise in price level like wages, exchange rate, external shocks, depletion of natural resources, taxes etc. wheat prices have specifically been allegedly been known as the cause of the increasing inflation in Pakistan (Government of Pakistan, Various Issues). Following what Abdul Qayyums research study , we found through the inflation control in not a recent phenomenon, but a topic of interest and of utmost importance since 1970s. there have been many debates regarding the causes of inflation however, controlling it is an collectively agreed topic of prioritized importance among economists and policymakers. which makes it central banks responsibility to control inflation, since central controls monetary policy and inflation is deductively a monetary phenomenon. The thing that most intrigued in Abdul Qayyum in this regard was the effectiveness of monetary policy in controlling inflation. we observe from the data provided for Pakistan that whenever the money supply target was controlled the inflation was controlled successfully (Qayyum, 2008). However, not too many rare occasions like this have occurred and due to the absence of coordination between the government and the central bank, the implementation of monetary policy has lost its effectiveness. Other problems have risen as well and the monetary policy has been experiencing inconsistency in reaction time along with ineffectiveness, nevertheless, we have evidence enough from the recent years of the effectiveness of monetary policy in controlling inflation by observing that when SBP failed to control the money supply , it consequently failed to control the rate of inflation within the target levels. If worked out efficiently it produces outcome effectively (Qayyum, 2008). Another study Does Volatility in Government Borrowing Leads to Higer iInflation? conducted by Adnan Haider and Safdar Ullah Khan analyzes the impact of volatility in the borrowing of the government from the central bank on the rate of inflation that persists domestically in Pakistan. The findings of the research study that was conducted for the sake of examining the sensitivity of inflation rate to volatility in government borrowing, indicate that there exists a relationship between the two especially in the long run. The research was conducted in the light of supporting fiscal dominance hypothesis in the determination of in inflation in Pakistans economy (Haider Khan, 2007). The result enlightens us with very important piece of information pertaining to the relationship, in connection with the fiscal dominance hypothesis, between the two variables; volatility in governments borrowing and the inflation rate. Its indicates that a significantly strong relationship exists between the two. even in the long run this relationship holds significantly. According to Haider and Khan, the estimated coefficient implies that one standard deviation change in volatility in borrowing from the central bank leads to a change of 8.5% in domestic inflation. specifically it indicates a relationship but not the direction or the causal dynamis of the relationship. these findings lead us to posession of evidence relationg to the importance of monetary policy in affecting inflation which in turn effects the economic growth (Haider Khan, 2007). Pertaining to the factors that affect the inflation, political stability goes hand in hand in holding equal importance with regards to being a factor determinant of the inflation in an economy. Safdar Ullah Khan, together with Omar Farooq saqib conducted a study Political Instability and Inflation in Pakistan, to investigate the impact of the instability in government and political situation in the country on inflation rate in Pakistan. The results are implies in terms of monetary model and in terms of non monetary model. In term of monetary model, results conclude that the monetary determinants effect inflation marginally and they are dependent upon the political situation of the country. (Khan Saqib, 2008) In non monetary terms, Adnan and his associate found a positive relationship between the variables; political instability and inflation. The analysis was done on interactive dummies that represent political instability and induce high inflation. The research may, however, also lead us into believing that inflation is a non monetary phenomenon due to its strong affiliation with changes in government infrastructure and political crisis. It may also lead to an implication that government crisis rather than oil prices are responsible for the high inflationary pressure. Nevertheless, we observe a lack of significant research studies relating these two variables and given the high volume of political unrest in our country in the recent years (Haider Khan, 2007). In his other paper, Qayyum attempted to examine the link between the excess growth in money supply and inflation in Pakistans economy, investigated the soundness of the theroy that inflation is a monetary phenomenon. Qayyum conducted this research to come with an outcome that indicated that there is a positive alliance between inflation and money supply growth. The way the implication of the research went about is that the growth in money supply at first affects the GDP which in turn affects inflation. This further indicates and hence, implies that money supply growth is a factor contributor in rise of price level. Thus money supply affects inflation and we can deduce from this implication that inflation is after all a monetary phenomenon , which is controlled by monetary policy and can be controlled by tight monetary regulations (Qayyum, 2006). The validity of the theory has been confirmed by the study conducted consisting of tests and analysis by Qayyum and therefore its stands safe to assume that money supply is one of the key determining factors of inflation in Pakistan. To find the relationship between money growth and inflation, Qayyum estimated the relationship between the rate of inflation, money growth, growth in real income, and growth in velocity in Pakistan for the data provided covering the 1960-2005 period. An important conclusion that surfaced from this research was that there exists a significant relationship between the variable; inflation and money growth proving that the growth in money supply is a vital contributor to the rise in inflation. Furthermore, even the recent act by the State Bank of Pakistan to tighten the monetary policy, supports the theory that inflation in Pakistan is a monetary phenomenon. (Qayyum, 2006). The same argument was made by Wasim Malik in his study Money, Output and Inflation that the effect of changes in money supply seeps into output through inflation, however, with some lags. And through a series of tests Malik found that above hypothesis cannot be rejects owing to its strong and valid stance. Malik claims that the three possible argument can explain the high inflation in history including monetary policy, supply side factors and foreign inflation. tests however show that effect monetary policy transfers into inflation with a lag of half a year and then takes another year to reach the peak. The reason why this happens can be explained by two possible situations, according to Malik; First, central bank focuses on future targets more than on the previous trends while deciding on the money growth and second, th central bank does that out of fear of losing higher growth (Malik, 2006). Having analyzed the research studies, that examine variables affecting inflation and rendering it a monetary phenomenon and we come back to our literature review in examining the literature contents that would help us find material evidence on the importance of inflation and its relationship to growth. So far conclusive researches conducted by Min Li have been very helpful and have been supporting our expected findings smoothly. This brings us to reviewing a research by Vikesh Gokal and Subrina Hanif on Relationship Between Inflation and Economic growth. These authors work their way through research with the initial observation that show the many developed countries have a predetermined goal of achieving high growth and maintaining it side by side with a low inflation rate. This inspired them to carry on with their research given o much importance that it holds in the economy. The nature of relationship that exists between inflation and growth has been a debatable topic for quite some time. The authors have reviewed different theories on the inflation-growth relationship including those that are Classical; emphasizes on the need to save and invest for growth purposes, Keynesian; emphasizes on the critical role of monetary growth in changing inflation rates and Neoclassical; emphasizes on the impact the inflation has on capital accumulation and investment. The paper also reveals the findings of other research studies conducted n this filed and incorporating their results to conclude their own research, testing whether a momentous relationship exist between the two mentioned variables (Gokal Hanif, 2004). Contrary to what Li found later on, Hanif and Vikesh found there, to be a weak correlation between inflation and growth. Also the causality was found to be running from GDP to inflation. These results were in accordance and derived from the review of other research studies conducted by authors before their own time. According to Michael Sarels inflation impacted a negative growth after 8% (Michael Sarel, 1996). In another research authors found the threshold of inflation in industrial countries to be around 1-3% and in developing countries o be 11-12 % (Khan; Senhadji, 2001). These findings led the authors of this paper to conclusions that the two variable; inflation and growth has weak negative correlation and the causality ran from growth to inflation rather than what was proposed and found by Li later in time (Gokal Hanif, 2004). Following the course the was led by Gokal and Hanif, Chimobi conducted a study in Nigeria to follow a similar suit of finding any existing relationship between inflation and economic growth, but his study was specific to Nigeria. Chimobi found, as a result of the study he conducted based on the data for Nigeria inflation and growth over the period 1970-2005, that there was no co-integrating relationship between inflation and economic growth for Nigeria. The second attempt the author made in his research as to determine the causality of the relationship between inflation and economic growth. Conclusively a unidirectional causality was found between the variable running from inflation to economic growth that were in orderly support of what Min Li found, however quite the contrary to what Gokal and Hanif proposed (Gokal Hanif, 2004). This was an indication implied by the empirical evidence that a relationship does exist between inflation and economic growth and inflation indeed does ha ve an impact on economic growth (Chimobi, 2010). However it was not concluded whether the relationship that existed between inflation and economic growth was positive or negative for Nigeria. We can only deduce from other studies that have been reviewed in literature that inflation has never had a favourable impact on the economic growth outcome (Chimobi, 2010). This shall be covered in the discussion to come. A study estimate of the threshold level of inflation in Pakistan was covered by Yasir Ali Mubarik in his research on Inflation and Growth. According to the research conducted by Yasir, a finding surfaced that showed that threshold level of 9% exists in Pakistan beyond which inflation will be rendered harmful for economic growth (Mubarik, 2005). Having put the home dataset through causality test and then analyzing it for sensitivity for inflation and economic growth the research concluded the some findings that include the existence of a relationship between inflation and economic growth. Since a threshold level was determined , any impact of inflation on economic growth, whether negative or positive, is still considered as a relationship between the two variables. Another finding that was deduced was that there existed a unidirectional relationship between the variables running from inflation to economic growth. Since inflation was found to have a negative impact beyond a threshold level on the economic growth, therefore, the relationship was taken to be causal running from inflation to economic growth and not vice versa. the research conducted however did not specify a lower level of threshold below which economic growth would not occur. Regardless the research poses as an important conclusion for the policymakers (Mubarik , 2005). A study analysis of Relationship between inflation and growth is performed by Erbaykal Okuyan in their study Inflation in Pakistan in which the relationship between the inflation and the economic growth in Turkey has been examined for the data covering the period of 1987-2006. Through their research they discovered the existence of a long term relationship between the two variables; Inflation and economic growth in turkey. Using the causality test used by Toda Yamamoto, Erbaykal Okuyan examined the causality relationship between the two (Yamamoto, 1995). However, they found no causal relationship between the two variable from economic growth to inflation but they did found a causal relationship from inflation to economic growth. implying the inflation has an impact on the economic growth (Erbaykal Okuyan, 2008). Khan Schimmelpfennig, in this paper observe the factors that help forecast inflation in Pakistan and explain it. The research conducted by Khan Schimmelpfennig emplys a simple inflation model, which includes standard monetary variables (money supply, credit to the private sector), an activity variable, the interest and the exchange rates, as well as the wheat support price as a supply-side factor to estimate the forecast while indicators like private sector credit growth and broad money growth are considered effective for inflation forecast which can be used for future developments pertaining to inflation. The results found empirically during the course of the research conducted by Khan Schimmelpfennig show that monetary factors are good indicators of inflation, since inflation is a monetary phenomenon (Khan Schimmelpfennig, 2006). Thus, according to Khan Schimmelpfennig, the two key variables that explain inflation developments are Broad money growth and private sector credit growth. In order to control Inflation in Pakistan and thus spur growth ,price stability should be the prime objective of the SBP. With monetary policy in action, the exchange rate shall no longer be able to offset the effect external shocks on the economy which leaves the SBP with nothing but to maintain price stability, which will ultimately prove to be the best policy contribution for sustained growth. The course of the research provided us with results that show that in the short run, there may not be a trade-off between inflation and growth, however, in the medium- and long-run, it blissfully exists. Moreover the authors argue that monetary policy should be more concerned with core inflation because given the volatility in some part of CPI, food prices and energy prices, core inflation is a better measure of underlying trends of infl ation than headline inflation. Furthermore, the authors conclude that even though core inflation is the right tool for monetary policy, nevertheless, the SBP must keep a watch over headline inflation. (Khan Schimmelpfennig, 2006).

The Hope Bill Essay -- essays research papers

The HOPE Bill In the year 2024, the world has grown to increase its size to 24 billion people worldwide. The increase in the population has caused the destruction of most farmland in the world, causing it to look underwater for a supply of food. Private enterprises are currently farming and selling food that comes from underwater regions of the world. However, a vast majority of the world is still not being fed. On a percentage basis, though, we have fewer people unemployed than in 1996. However, that still means that over a hundred million people are unemployed and double that are on welfare or homeless. As a result, I am sponsoring a bill to the senate that will address this problem. The HOPE program, Helping Others acquire Pride and Emancipation, will help the unfortunate people gain pride in what they do. The HOPE will give back the pride that people need and deserve. It will put people into a more productive and rewarding job by emancipating them out of the life each person is leading. Twenty years ago, in the year 2004, the world implemented a youth program that was the exact opposite of Hitler's Youth. For example, the program gives kids a feeling of self-confidence, and they become more tolerant of others and their views. The program places all kids in situations to learn of other cultures and to gain a caring and understanding in all situations, people caring for the plight of others. In the fourth through the sixth grade, all kids are required to complete at least 5 hours of community service each week; in high school, they are required to complete ten hours a week. This program has caused the world to gain a more caring, empathetic attitude towards the well-being of others. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one." This was the groundbreaking program that people had been waiting for so that a program like mine could enter the senate. To solve the problem of the unemployed, the homeless, and the welfare recipients, I will propose a new bill, talk about the arguments against my bill, and present solutions to the arguments. The first part of the plan is to have a world-wide benefit to raise money to help pay for the program. Jerry Lewis raised millions of dollars for muscular dystrophy. In the year 2000, a cure for this debilitating disease was found as a result of these "telethons". People will donate... ... and adding to the budget of the world. As incomes of individuals increase, they will spend more money. Corporations will increase their revenues because of these expenditures. When companies make more money, they have the ability to expand their capacity. Thus, new jobs will be created, jobs that the newly trained and educated workers can fill. In conclusion, the world has had numerous depressions. The most devastating of these were in the 1930's and 2010's. For more than two centuries, the United States has argued and fought over welfare and unemployment. Many people today still want to do away with both programs. We need to remake the Declaration of Independence where all men have certain unalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This bill provides the atmosphere and environment for those less fortunate to pursue these rights. The lagniappe of this bill, the world receives much needed food and gets to encompass additional productive grateful citizens. Look to your heart before you vote on this bill. Only one conclusion is possible: why has it taken us so long to adopt such measures? I thank you for your understanding and sponsorship of this HOPE program.

Our Moving Fate: A Study of El Greco’s Assumption of the Virgin Essay

Our Moving Fate: A Study of El Greco’s Assumption of the Virgin El Greco painted his â€Å"Assumption of the Virgin† in 1577 for the convent of Santo Domingo el Antiguo in Toledo, Spain. Born in Greece as Domenikos Theotocopoulos, (his nickname translates from Spanish into â€Å"The Greek†), El Greco was the top artist of the Spanish School, and was commissioned to paint â€Å"Assumption† to adorn the convent’s altar. The painting is a daunting size—over six feet wide and twice as tall—surrounded by a wooden frame tinted with a non-uniform metallic gold paint. The oil on canvas creates some, although not obvious texture, and brush strokes are visible only slightly in the garments of the human subjects. The Virgin Mary is the main figure in the painting, situated horizontally-centered in the upper-half of the canvas. She is wearing a blue flowing gown which begins below her bosom and reaches down to her feet, and a deep red fabric covers her chest and upper limbs. Her arms are outstretched and she is looking up into the heavens, flanked by female angels, adults and infants, who are praying and looking on. Below the clouds in the bottom-half of the canvas is a group of mortal men with mixed emotions and split into two groups leaving a part in the mass directly below Mary. All of the figures wear loose outfits similar to Mary’s, and many of the colors, bright but not full, are repeated throughout. One subtle detail particularly worth noting is a small piece of white paper in the bottom right-hand corner of the canvas. El Greco added the image to the paintings that he believed were his true masterpieces. Regardless of any analysis, it is certain that El Greco was extremely proud of â€Å"Assumption,† and believed it to be one of his best. .. ...â€Å"Assumption of the Virgin,† El Greco has done three remarkable things. His use of sneaky geometry and symbolism first completely hijacks control of the viewer’s gaze, and then creates a dynamic, accelerating scene on what is in reality a canvas at rest. Finally, instead of simply presenting a scene, he creates an actual anticipation of judgment, and brings the viewer so completely into the scene that he shares the same fate as the painted mortals themselves. It is fitting that El Greco’s masterpiece made its way to the altar in a sanctuary, where its effect would be most appropriate. And perhaps this was El Greco’s intention all along. As a believing Catholic, he must have been satisfied to know that worshipers praying in Antiguo’s church would witness, and literally join humankind as they desperately tried to please God, agonizing over his judgment of their own fate.

BPR and Enterprise Systems

Some of the factors that a process engineer should take into consideration when designing a BPR project includes the following; first of all the project engineer should consider developing a decision making framework, which should be relevant at the very initial stages of the project in relation to the project requirements and objectives as well as goals. The framework is the most important tool, which will be used through the whole life of the project.This factor is unique to the BPR projects as it is not taken into consideration in establishing the ERP projects (Portougal and Sundaram p13-150). The second factor is the recruitment of recognized individuals, who should be recognized persons from the various departments that they represent. These leaders will be required to participate in the various aspects of the project, especially the selection and implementation phases of the project.This is important as it will encourage free flow of information in carrying out the projects. Th e third factor is that, the engineer should take into consideration to the project management as well as planning measures, to ensure that innovation advances are encouraged in carrying out the project as well as avoid unnecessary project expenses (Harmon, Rosen and Guttman, p52-67).The fourth factor the engineer should consider should be the use of consultants as, well as the decisions of the peers where a given proportion of the project is assigned to the outsiders to encourage the application of new knowledge skills which will improve the project. Finally, among other considerations the project engineer should consider developing a kind of special office environment which will be deciced to the project team.So as to improve on the performance of the project, the engineer should consider the training programs which will enable the project team members to improve on their performance skills. Some of the factors that are considered to be unique in relation to the BPR projects, when considered with the other projects are that the process is carried out as a continuous process, whereby evaluations are carried out on a regular basis to improve on the areas with display some forms of difficulties (Portougal and Sundaram p13-150).Some of the problems encountered while undertaking the BPR projects include the organizations failing to offer the necessary support in carrying out the projects; many of the projects fail to take off well in cases where the organizational resources are not dedicated in carrying out the projects. In such situations, the management of the project does not carry out strategic planning activities, which will seek to establish the market focus for their project.In relation to that, the project may have been initiated by the wrong people or in the wrong department in the organization, which does not initiate the management of the organization to dedicate its resources as they feel they may lose in the process (Harmon, Rosen and Guttman, p52-67) . The other difficulty experienced in carrying such kind of projects is that the work groups, which are involved in carrying out the project activities lack inspiration, as well as innovation tactics in carrying out the projects, and this are the most important requirements for the success of the projects.This can be caused by the management of the organization as well as that of the project injecting too much pressure on the project members, and also the participants would lack the needed knowledge and skills to carry out the project activities. On the other hand, there are problems in cases where underestimations are made in relation to carrying out the project activities. In any BPR project, there is usually social career as well as the procedural dimension which need to be carried out to ensure that the project is successful.The problem in this area arises as to the management of the human aspects, which involve change that is usually comprehensive to manage as compared to other environmental changes (Portougal and Sundaram p13-150). To address the issue of support from the organization when carrying out the BPR projects, there is need for the management of the organization to come up with ways in which they allocate the resources of the company towards the projects by developing budgets before the projects are implemented.So as to ensure the project members will carry out their project activities well, the training programs should be used to initiate competency in the project members. To improve their morale to work, they should be compensated according by initiating a number of remuneration packages that will be of benefit to the project members. Considering that the management of change is an issue in carrying out the BPR projects, it is important for the management of the organization to initiate flexible management structures, which would initiate a culture of change within an organization before the projects are undertaken.In doing so, the project me mbers will find it more ease to adapt to changes in the project activities, as they will have been used to a culture of change (Langer, p268-230). Given that most of the projects fail as a result of inefficiencies in the management functions, the is need for the management of the organization and that of the project to carry out strategic management activities before and as they carry out the project activities. This is to ensure that the uncertainties in the future of the project are dealt with in a more efficient way.The advantages of carrying strategic planning activities is that they enable an organization to handle its strengths and weaknesses as well as the emerging business opportunities at the market place and in that way could be able to come up with effective strategies. This will enable the project management team and the organization to utilize their potential in achieving project success with the limited resources (Harmon, Rosen and Guttman, p52-67). In carrying out BPR projects they are usually a number of tools that can be used in carrying out the requirements of the project.One of these tools includes the use of the IT architecture. In using this instrument a number of packages have been developed which could enable the user to carry out the different aspects of the project, which include process analysis to redesigning as well as project modelling. The tool enables the organization to determine the difference between the level of work required to be carried out in a given project, and the ways in which the difference can be narrowed so as to achieve the objectives of the project.Despite the tool being useful to the organization, it seems to a complex technique in carrying out the project activities and sometimes could act as a hindrance to the various project activities, which could affect the general results off the projects. The challenge which comes from the use of this tool is that it demands that the decisions of the project needs to be m ade early enough, so as to make the necessary adjustments as the project progresses and within a limited time period (Langer, p268-230).So as to deal with this major challenge in the use of the IT architecture, there is need to simplify the technique so as to enable the project members to implement its use with ease. In addition to that, early planning measures need to adopt. Some of the common goals that are aimed at in carrying out the BPR and enterprise systems involve; analyzing as well as suggesting ways in which the organization can be able to improve on it most critical business activities, which form part of the organizational structure.This is all intended at increasing the general performance of the organization, so as to create value for the various stakeholders of the organization (Langer, p268-230). The second most important goal relates to the successfully coordinating the various resources of the organization such as its hardware, software and many others so as to mak e them be in line to the organizational culture thus achieve an optimally functioning organization system.Some of the similarities between the BPR and the enterprise system are that, they both are focused towards initiating change in the organization, which will eventually improve on the performance level of the organization. The main difference between the two approaches is that the process orientation in the two is totally different. In BPR, the manner in which change is initiated is through innovations and also encompassing of knowledge which has been used in the past, whereas for the enterprise approach such measures are not taken into consideration (Langer, p268-230).BPR is considered to be more suitable especially if it is done in appropriate manner in carrying out organizational change, which is one of the ingredients needed to create value for the customers. On the other hand, the BPR projects can involve the customers in initiating the creation of value thus end up engaging the organizational members in activities that will seek ;to establish a competitive advantage for the organization (Harmon, Rosen and Guttman, p52-67).The enterprise system is more suitable in situations where trade offs need to be made between the various project techniques that need to bring about change in the organization under various situations (Harmon, Rosen and Guttman, p52-67). References Portougal, V, Sundaram, D. Business processes: operational solutions for SAP implementation. Idea Group Inc (IGI), 2005. Harmon, P, Rosen, M and Guttman, M. Developing E-business systems & architectures: a manager's guide. Morgan Kaufmann, 2001. Langer, A. Analysis and Design of Information Systems. Springer, 2007.